Paul Collingwood remains convinced that Durham can secure First Division status as this season's promotion race reaches a fascinating climax.

Paul Collingwood remains convinced that Durham can secure First Division status as this season's promotion race reaches a fascinating climax.

The county's championship destiny will become clearer in Wales this week with victory imperative against Glamorgan if Martyn Moxon's men are to maintain their top three challenge.

And Collingwood, hoping for an England recall when the Test and One-Day squads for the tours to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are announced later today, confirmed the Durham camp was in confident mood despite last week's disappointing defeat against Northamptonshire.

"We've made the task more difficult for ourselves by failing to win our last fixture and of course we could have performed better," he explained.

"However, there's no hangover from the Northants game and we're going to Glamorgan full of confidence.

"If we win the next two championship matches then there's still every possibility that we'll be promoted and that would be a remarkable achievement for the county after last summer.

"Looking in from the outside, and since I've returned to fitness, I feel the younger lads are improving all the time. As a team we are finally putting the scores on the board and that's why the last game was such a let-down."

Moxon has added Nicky Peng and Liam Plunkett to the squad which travelled to Northampton and both will feature this week if the pitch appears receptive to the latter's pace.

"Liam is an option if the strip looks quick but we've been unable to have a proper look at it just yet," added Moxon. "As far as Liam's concerned he looks sharp after his spell with England's Under-19s and he is a player who we expect to see a lot more of next summer."

Plunkett has been tipped to follow county colleagues Collingwood and Steve Harmison into the full England squad within the next few years.

Lord's officials have also been keeping tabs on Collingwood's comeback from a shoulder injury and inclusion in today's England touring part would be just reward for a player hoping to make a Test breakthrough this summer.